Cigarette lighter



June 3, 1941- R. c. SPRINGBORN CIGARETTE LIGHTER Filed March 26, 1940 [n ventor By Attorneys Patented June 3, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CIGARETTE LIGHTER Rueben C. Springborn, Iola, Wis. Application March 26, 1940, Serial No. 326,095

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in cigarette lighters particularly for automobiles and has for one of its important objects to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a device of this character embodying means for forcing air through the cigarette while it is being lighted.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide, in a cigarette lighter of the type including an electric igniter and draft means, a novel construction and arrangement for controlling said ignited and draft means upon insertion and withdrawal of a cigarette.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a cigarette lighter of the character described which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly eflicient and reliable in use, compact and which may be menufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a cigarette lighter constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view in vertical longitudinal section through the device.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view, taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a tube I of suitable material. At one end, the tube I terminates in a reduced, threaded neck 2 which extends through an opening provided therefor in the instrument panels of an automobile. Threaded on the neck 2 is a substantially bell shaped guide I which is adapted to secure the tube I on the instrument panel 3. The guide 4 also facilitates proper insertion of the cigarette to be lighted, as at 5. Connected to the other end portion of the tube I is a flexible conduit or hose 6. The hose 6 is to extend to a point arfiacent the rear of the cooling fan of the engine of the automobile for receiving air under pressure therefrom. The end of the hose which is adjacent the fan may be provided with a substantially funnel shaped or conical guide for directing air into said hose from the fan.

Mounted on the forward portion of the tube I and depending therefrom is a casing 1 of suitable material. The casing I is removably secured to the tube 'I by screws 8. As seen in Fig. 2 of the drawing, the tube I is provided in its lower portion with an opening '9 for communication with the casing I.

Mounted in the casing 1 and extending upwardly into the tube I is a rigid post or bracket III. Mounted on the upper end portion of the post III and electrically insulated therefrom is a stationary contact II. A conductor wire I2 enters the casing 1 through an opening I3 provided therefor and is connected to the contact II. The conductor I2 connects the contact II with a suitable source of current supply, such as the usual storage battery of the vehicle.

Also mounted in the casing I, forwardly of the post III, is an upstanding resilient arm I4. Mounted on the upper end portion of the resilient arm I4 for movement in the forward portion of the tube I is an igniting head which is designated generally by the reference numeral I5. The igniting head I5 includes a substantially cup-shaped cap I6 having formed therein a centrally located aperture H which, as best seen in Fig. 2 of the drawing, is adapted to be closed by the cigarette 5. Mounted in the cap I6 is a coiled electric heating element III. The element I8 is provided with a center contact I9 which is engageable with the cont-act II. Of course, the periphery of the element I8 is grounded for completing the electric circuit when the contact I9 is engaged with the contact II.

The reference numeral 20 designates a butterfly valve which is mounted in the tube I for controlling the flow of air therethrough. The air control valve 20 is operatively connected to the igniting head I5 for actuation thereby through the medium of a link 2 I.

It is thought that the operation of the lighter will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. The igniting head I5 and the valve 20 are normally in the position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing, in which position the contacts II and I9 are spaced from each other and the tube I is closed against the passage of air therethrough. The cigarette 5 to be lighted is inserted and engaged with the cap I6 over the opening I], the guide 4 facilitating this. The cigarette 5 is then pushed inwardly in a manner to flex the resilient arm I I and engage the contact I9 with the contact II thus completing the electric circuit through the element I8 and bringing said element to incandescence. This movement of the igniting head I5 opens the valve 20 through the medium of the link 2| thereby permitting the flow of air through the tube I. This air flows with sufficient force to pass through the element l8, the opening l1 and the cigarette '5 thereby accelerating the ignition of said cigarette and putting a live light thereon. When smoke is observed coming from the outer end of the cigarette the operator will know that said cigarette has been properly lighted. As soon as the cigarette is withdrawn the resilient arm M returns the igniting head IE to the position seen in Fig. 2 of the drawing thereby disengaging the contact H) from the contact H for opening or breaking the electric circuit to the element 18 and at the same time returning the valve 29 to closed position. Referring again to Fig. 2 of the drawing, it will be observed that the apertured cap l6 prevents the cigarette 5 from contacting the element [8. The removable casing permits access to be readily had to the igniting head [5 should the element 3 burn out.

It is believed that the many advantages of a cigarette lighter constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood and although a preferred embodiment of the device is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

A cigarette lighter comprising a tube for connection at one end with a source of air under pressure, the other end portion of said tube for the reception of a cigarette to be lighted, an air control valve mounted in the tube, a casing mounted on the tube and communicating therewith, a post in the casing extending into the tube, a stationary, insulated contact on said post, a resilient arm in the casing extending into the tube, an igniting head on said resilient arm ineluding an electric element and a contact engageable with the first named contact, said igniting head being movable by the cigarette for engaging the contacts, and a link operatively connecting the valve to the igniting head for actuation thereby.

RUEBEN C. SPRINGBORN. 

